MOBILE, Ala. — It’s a compliment when an offensive lineman is described as being nasty or having a mean streak.
Mississippi State center Elgton Jenkins received several of those compliments this week at the Senior Bowl.
The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder from Clarksdale consistently won his matchups during one-on-one and team drills at the college football showcase. He takes pride in planting a defensive lineman in the turf, even if it’s MSU teammate Montez Sweat.
“Man, that feels good,” Jenkins said of pancaking defensive linemen. “You want to be able to put your will on your
opponent.
“Like Montez, putting him on his back,” he added with a laugh. “Nah, just kidding.”
Jenkins hopes to back up that work in practice at 1:30 p.m. Saturday (NFL Network) when the Senior Bowl players hit the field. He said his goal this week was to show NFL teams he brings tenacity “every game and every play.”
But Jenkins is more than just brawn. MSU coach Joe Moorhead considered Jenkins the “brain” of his team’s offense. He also was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2015 and 2017 en route to earning a degree in industrial technology.
“He’s a great teammate,” Sweat said Thursday following practice at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. “He can play center, guard, tackle, wherever he needs to be to help his team win.”
Jenkins started 34 of 49 games at MSU. The 2018 Kent Hull Trophy winner for the best offensive lineman in the state of Mississippi started 26 games at center, five at left tackle, two at left guard, and one at right tackle. He allowed one sack in 762 pass-blocking snaps at center during his junior and senior seasons, according to Pro Football Focus.
Jenkins, the No. 1 center prospect for the NFL draft, according to ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., earned first-team All-America honors from The Athletic and fourth-team honors from Phil Steele.
Jenkins will join Sweat and MSU teammate Gerri Green in the game Saturday. MSU safety John Abram also was selected to participate in the Senior Bowl, but he was held out of practices this week and won’t play in the game because of a sprained AC joint.
MSU’s four selections to the Senior Bowl are its most since four Bulldogs were selected following the 2010 season.
While the Bulldogs have enjoyed sharing the experience together, the ultimate goal for each of them is to improve their draft stock. Jenkins has spent every free minute in Mobile studying film or his playbook. Sweat has been one of the best defensive players all week. Green also has shined on the defense, while Abram wanted to convey his maturity to NFL teams.
“It’s been great,” Jenkins said of his Senior Bowl experience. “It’s a blessing to be here and play with some of the best talent in the nation. I’m glad I got the opportunity to do it.”
A common phrase used around college All-Star games and the NFL Combine when a player performs well is he made himself some money. Jenkins did just that. He began the week as a third-round prospect, but NFL teams were so impressed that two scouts said they wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up getting selected in the first round of the NFL draft, which will be in April.
“I hope so,” Jenkins said of being a potential first-round pick, “but I only worry about what I can control. We’ll see.”
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